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You’ve been fighting a hard battle. Behind closed doors, within the quietness of your heart, in the hours when it seems the rest of the world is sleeping. You are a warrior, my friend. A woman of courage. Yes, you. The one who sometimes feels weak. The one who wonders if she will ever prevail. The one whose hand trembles on the sword sometimes.

You are already victorious. More than a conqueror. It may not feel that way in the heat of the battle, but you can be sure of this: the war is already won. You can’t lose. You will not falter.

You have been promised that nothing can defeat you. Nothing. Not even this. So stand tall, warrior girl, because you are mightier than you know. Your prayers, your unyielding faith, your words of truth have the power to make the enemy tremble. Not because of who you are but because of whose side you fight on.

And the One you fight for will always fight for you. He has done so since the beginning of time, and he will do so until every last obstacle and opposition has been destroyed. He is fierce on your behalf and infinitely tender with your heart.

Sometimes you will be wounded, yes. But don’t let that trick you into believing you have been knocked down forever. That can never happen. Those wounds will be healed by the One whose scars have guaranteed victory for you.

Stand strong, friend. Keep fighting. Refuse to let fear win. Never yield an inch to the enemy. You stand on holy ground, and no one can take what’s yours.

Welcome to Coffee for Your Heart! The concept is simple: You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday. The writing prompt I gave you last week in celebration of You’re Going to Be Okay hitting the bestsellers list was,“No matter what happens, you’re going to be okay because…” Now it’s time to link up your blog post or leave a comment sharing how you used that prompt to encourage someone. When you link up, you’ll be entered for the giveaway below!

The next writing prompt is this: “What brings you joy?” Write a blog post on that theme and link it up here next Wednesday. If you don’t have a blog, you can post on facebook or simply leave a comment about what brings you joy. I always feel a bit better when I read what about what makes my sisters smile.

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GIVEAWAY! If you link up a post today you’ll be entered for a $50 gift certificate to www.wisedecor.com. They do fabulous custom removable wall decals. You could do your word of the year, a favorite verse, a quote you love–whatever you want! I just got one and I love it. Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.}

Last week I asked you “What are the encouraging words you want to hear when you’re having a hard day?”You can probably guess my answer by now–a phrase I think we all need to believe deep inside. Because If I asked you how you are today, you (like so many of us) might answer, “Fine.” But underneath that answer could be questions, struggles, insecurities. How do I know? Because I’m human too. And this is what I need to hear over and over: you’re going to be okay.

You’re going to be okay even if it feels like your world is falling apart right now.

You’re going to be okay even if it seems your confidence is lacking.

You’re going to be okay even if you don’t know what tomorrow holds.

Does that mean you need to be okay right now? No, ma’am. You have permission to be messy and in progress. It simply means you can have hope. You can know your future is secure. You can trust there is a greater purpose and plan at work in it all.

We all have stress, bad days, and hard times. We all know what it’s like to have life disappoint us. We’re all on this wild and crazy ride together. So as the roller coaster of your life zooms, I want to place my hand on top of yours—the hand that’s desperately clinging to the safety bar in front of you—and holler into the wind whipping past our faces, “You’re going to be okay!”

You’re going to survive this ride. One way or another. It will not last forever. It will not destroy, derail, or defeat you. Someday you may even be able to look back at it and see it differently than you do today.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” And we do. But then he added this: “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

You’re Going to Be Okay released yesterday and it hit the top 100 on a bestseller list last night…I’m grateful with all my heart for your love, sharing and cheering!

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Welcome to Coffee for Your Heart! The concept is simple: You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday. The writing prompt I gave you last week this question: “What are the encouraging words you want to hear when you’re having a hard day?”Now it’s time to link up your blog post or leave a comment sharing how you used that prompt to encourage someone!

In celebration of You’re Going to Be Okay, the next writing prompt is: “No matter what happens, you’re going to be okay because…” Write a blog post on that theme and link it up here next Wednesday. You don’t need to mention the book but if you’d like to then I may just show up on your doorstep with hot fudge and happily cover everything in your kitchen with it.

And in celebration of your encouraging words, there will be a giveaway next week for everyone who links up. It’s a $50 gift certificate to www.wisedecor.com. They do fabulous custom removable wall decals. You could do your word of the year, a favorite verse, a quote you love–whatever you want! I just got one and I love it.

We all have moments when we feel alone. In a world where everyone seems to be connected, it seems ironic that studies show we’re more isolated than ever before. That sense of separateness can create cracks that let lies slip into our hearts.

Lies that say, “Everyone has more friends than you.”

Lies that taunt, “Maybe you don’t really belong here.”

Lies that even accuse, “If anyone really knew you, you wouldn’t be loved the same.”

Can we shudder together at the ugliness of those words? And then can we say as sisters that we won’t listen to them anymore?

You are not alone. I am not alone. Even in the moments when we feel like we are.

Here’s the catch: we still have the power to shut our hearts. We can say, “I feel alone sometimes, so there must be something wrong with me. I will hide away until I can become perfect. Then I will reveal who I really am.” We can go through a lifetime of church and work and parties this way—showing up but never really showing who we are.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead we can courageously say, “Here I am, imperfect and messy and broken. We all are. So let’s be that way together.”

Is this hard? Oh yes. Is it risky? Love always is. Yet it’s also the only way to dissolve the illusion that we’re alone, and to help others do the same. We’re better, stronger, more fully alive together.

Welcome to Coffee for Your Heart! The concept is simple: You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love to others with your words every Wednesday. The writing prompt I gave you last week was, “You’re not alone.” Now it’s time to link up your blog post or leave a comment sharing how you used that prompt to encourage someone this week!

The next writing prompt is this question: “What are the encouraging words you want to hear when you’re having a hard day?” Write a blog post on that theme and link it up here next Wednesday. And even if you don’t have a blog, we’d love for you to join us by leaving a comment that day.

{Email Subscribers, if you haven’t stopped by www.holleygerth.com lately come on over. Lots of fun things happening there today!}

Dear You,

I wish I could hold a mirror in front of your face and your heart today. I imagine you would be quick to point out what you might call “flaws.” You’d tell me what you’d like to change or how this or that could be a bit better. You’d look at me, expecting me to nod in agreement, but instead I’d smile and shake my head.

We live in a world that tries to define beauty. But I don’t believe beauty is meant to be defined.

Instead it’s meant to be found.

And it can be, if only we have the eyes to see it. Next time you go to the mirror, will you do me a favor? Instead of looking with eyes that are critical and comparing, look with eyes of love and grace.

Then go out and do the same for your sisters. Look into their eyes and tell them that they are beautiful. Look into their hearts and encourage all that is lovely and true. Ask God to help you see this world and those in it from his perspective.

Instead of looking into mirrors to see what we wish could be different, let’s become mirrors for others that reflect God’s love and grace.

Welcome to Coffee for Your Heart! The concept is simple: I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday. The writing prompt I gave you last week was, “You’re beautiful…just as you are” So now it’s time to link up your blog post or leave a comment sharing how you used that prompt to encourage someone.

The next writing prompt is this: “You’re not alone.” Write a blog post on that theme and link it up here next Wednesday. If you don’t have a blog, you can post on facebook or simply leave a comment about how you let someone in your life know they’re not alone this week.

Let’s start with what matters most: you’re loved. I don’t know why it’s so hard for us to deeply, wholly believe that’s true. I’ve heard again and again the whispers of doubt. Can I be a different voice, a louder voice, in your life today?

You really are loved.

Just as you are.

More than you know.

There’s nothing that can change that in your life. Not a bad day, not a mistake, not all the ways you may sometimes worry you fall short. Nothing. So close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let the words wrap themselves around your heart.

I am loved.

It’s wonderfully true.

That means you don’t ever have to prove yourself. You don’t have to strive to earn the affection your heart longs for most. You can be free from continually pursuing more and yet never feeling like enough.

You’re loved in a way that is secure forever. The God who spoke the universe into being has said these words to you: “I love you.” And what he says can never be altered. In a world where so much may change, you can trust that his love will always stay the same. Your heart is truly safe with him.

Welcome to Coffee for Your Heart! The concept is simple: I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday. The writing prompt I gave you last week was, “You’re loved.” So now it’s time to link up your blog post or leave a comment sharing how you used that prompt to encourage someone.

The next writing prompt is this: “You’re beautiful…just as you are.” Write a blog post on that theme and link it up here next Wednesday. If you don’t have a blog, you can post on facebook or simply leave a comment about how you let someone in your life know they’re beautiful to you this week.